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HMCC - 'Hell of Lancashire' Classics style ride - Sunday 20th April
I've had a chat with the Captain and Neil about what that they thought of a Classics style HMCC weekend ride - a homage to Paris-Roubaix, the Hell of the North. I was thinking of a 40-50 mile local ride that would take in the best of Lancashires Potholes, trails, dirt roads, gravel tracks and mud....After the sprint down Plex Moss lane a couple of sundays ago i got the Classics bug (as did others i reckon)....
We couldnt do it the same sunday as Paris-Roubaix as it's the captains big ride but around that time would work....
We would have to limit numbers and also it wouldnt really be for anyone who isn't a confident, strong rider due to the terrain and technicality...one of the rules would be you have to ride a road bike, no mountain bikes.
It would be a great send off to everyones winter bikes as they go away for the summer!
Its just an idea at the minute...it has been done before by the club and the Captains promised he knows some tasty local classic style sections (he said it with a glint of mischief in his eye!!).
What do people think???
take it easy
Dan
It was always a good ride. I
It was always a good ride. I remember the Captain almost ending up in the Leeds Liverpool canal, such fun.
I'm in.
Im in.
I'm bad and that's good. I will never be good and that's not bad. There's no one I'd rather be, than me. (Wreck-It Ralph, 2012)
Good call...
Right after a bit of chat it
Right after a bit of chat it appears the HMCC Hell of Lancashire is a goer!!!
so.......
Sunday April 20th (usual shop meet time)
- It's looking like there will be an B Group Peloton and an A group Peloton.
- There will be limited numbers in each - i suggest 12 riders at the most (open to suggestions)
- You have to ride a road bike or cross (no gareth...not a crosser!!! :-)
- The route will be around the local area taking in gravel sections, cobbles, potholes, canal, trails, dirt roads etc...The route will be posted before hand and hopefully a GPX.
- It will probably be around 40-50miles i guess.
- It important to note that you must be a strong, confident, competant rider due to the terrain...if you go in the canal clipped in i aint diving in after you or your bike
- I would suggest winter bikes but its up to you - dont go blaming anyone but yourself if you rock up with your carbon framed, deep section, Di2 bike that ends up covered in shite!!
- Its not a race, there maybe chance to 'stretch your legs' at certain points but we all ride together and enjoy the challenge together!
We might need a B group leader - i'm sure we'll work something out.
I'll post on facebook - Who's in??
p.s I'm not managing the numbers on this one, people just need to be aware that we wont be taking the usual 'big' sunday groups on this one....I'm sure there will be the usual tarmac'd sunday ride happening alongside this!
Jubilee Woods
Might be interesting to add a section through the new trails here
I'll be creating the 'hell of
I'll be creating the 'hell of Lancashire' route for the 20th April this week... Staying local-ish, if anyone has any good section suggestions let me know (especially any local cobbles!)!!!
Here's my preliminary,
Here's my preliminary, potential, TBC route for the Hell ride....open to suggestions, its currently 55miles but relatively flat....its a bit twisty towards the end but no too bad.
http://www.strava.com/routes/251777
I'm gonna shorten this a bit
I'm gonna shorten this a bit as i dont want it to be an all day ride (and punctures, offs etc)....I'm also wondering if people are still up for this with it being Easter Sunday?? (I didnt realise).
I'm still in Dan, a bit
I'm still in Dan, a bit shorter might help so we are back in Ormskirk for about 12.30/1.00.
Interest
great stuff...i'm going to
great stuff...i'm going to try and ride most of it before the 20th...i'll probably be adding an extra 'climb' to it!!!!
is mill dam lane a dead end
is mill dam lane a dead end Craig??
the bumpy stuff!
Can't wait for this dan , should be a great ride!
Mill Dam Lane
Coming from Burscough side the cobbles run down to a passable gate the other side of which is a farm track (vehicle width) which joins Blythe Lane between the caravan park and Blythe Hall
^^^Its in!! Finish with some
^^^Its in!! Finish with some cobbles!
OK...by popular demand the
OK...by popular demand the added shit-kicker of a climb up Long Heys is in
....Now at 48miles...i think if we set of in time its managable to be back for 13:00....after the beacon its pretty flat.....people could bail early if needs be.
http://www.strava.com/routes/251777
UPDATE:
UPDATE:
Recces are going well...there's a mix of road surfaces and back lanes....there might even be a cut through a graveyard!!
I suggest that unless you have bolt on mud guards you remove them, they will rattle off! I'll be riding the winter steed which i dont mind scuffing up.
If i get chance i'll set up some segments on strava.
I'll mention it on sunday but a few things to consider:
- its not a race but on many of the 'off the beaten track' sectors it'll be better if people do there own thing and we re-group at the end, it easier to pick your line on your own. there will be a 'meet at the end/ top' call on these sections.
- people need to be aware that there might be some random/ unusual turns that arent main roads or even roads so please remain focussed....i'll lead out wherever i can and be as guiding as i possibly can
- we are going to need to communicate well so that people hear the calls - if you have a mechanical or puncture shout loud, the group will pass the message up and WE WILL ALL STOP and wait as a group.
- Its a bit of fun, something a bit different, i've tried to pull together a route that includes a mix of terrain, its not mountain bike terrain and is managable on Road bikes, people have had chance to suggest routes, lanes etc....i think to make sure it doesnt go on too long or becomes a free for all we'll stick to the planned route:
http://app.strava.com/routes/251777
should be fun....See you Sunday!!!
Shake, rattle and roll
Reckon this will feel like 125km rather than 75km. Not many (any?) "junk miles"...
Am i too late for this? if
Am i too late for this? if not i'd love to join you
your more than welcome Sam
your more than welcome Sam
Devious Dan's deadly detours do a duo in!
Dan, after using two tubes on the first sector I stopped with Chinook on the second sector. He put more air in the soft front tyre but we had to stop on the railway bridge to change his tube. We nearly caught up when we saw Simon, abandoning after using two tubes on sector two. You were in the distance towards Rainford but a delay behind a car meant we lost sight of you.
After the Red Cat Chinook and I decided to head for home, we had no tubes left anyway.
Two sectors in, one rider abandoned, five tubes used, two riders dropped...............a proper Hell of Lancashire classic.
Thanks for all the planning, really enjoyed it, targeting getting all the way round next year already
really sorry Steve...i came
really sorry Steve...i came some of the way back down Coach road but there was no sign of you...we'd been with Si for a while and saw a group come and go, that was bad really, i didnt want to loose anyone....i should have give everyone my number!
No problems Dan. Chinook put
No problems Dan. Chinook put air in his front tyre but after a few hundred metres we had to stop as it had gone completely. We were on top of the railway bridge for ages. Saw the other group go past us but we were there for quite a while.
Jut like the classics, not everyone finishes but taking part is fun anyway.
good fun that
Thanks for organising that Dan. A little challenging at times but nice to cycle some new lanes and quite pacey between the sectors. Must be close to double figures on the inner tube count? Hopefully bikes and bodies otherwise intact
Quick, late write up....
Quick, late write up....
We started with around 16 keen challengers at the shop and headed off on the pre-planned route.
We hit our first puncture on the 1st sector after a few minutes and this was to be the tail of the day, but to be expected.
We headed out towards Bickerstaffe and out Coach road, this is where we lost a few (3)...onwards and upwards into a stiff Northerly Headwind towards Birch Green and up to the Golf course vvia a back road route.
After me a Craig decided to look after the Prince William whilst the rest tackled Long Heys we headed out under the cobbled bridge in Newburgh (where Rick snaped his handle bar) and onto bacck lane and past Cedar Farm, no coffee for us....on towards Croston...after deciding to cut a loop out due to puncture time we head out to Sollom and back through Bank Hall and Eyes Lane...an nice noisy trip over the metal bridge, a small off for Sam and back onto the A59.....
Pace picked up, a few pealed off and 7 interpid explorers tackled the final Mill Dam sector back over the Blythe Lane.... 2 more punctures (so close!!!) and we finished back in Ormskirk!
41.1miles (more for the rest)
decent amount of climbing
around 10 punctures
1 broken handle bar
1 chasing from a yappy dog
3 ducks
1 classic bike (nice one Craig)
Great run....thanks for indulging me everyone!!!!
Classics
really enjoyed this dan nice one , Think more people should takle initiative and try out organising there own rides. i might try and sort one out for this summer. with some of my favourite roads included. (Alma hill sprint, shaley, bank top, apply lane, parbold hil, hunters, stoney, and if possible Foxholes i know its a bit out of the way !) might try and use that strava Flyby gizmo to organise some prizes for hill climbing points :) i know every one hasnt got a garmin.. but we could sort it out!
cheers :D
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